AIIM/On Demand Wrap Up

The trade shows attracted high-level prospects and demonstrated solidarity between AIIM and ON DEMAND.

Eastman Kodak Company showed print providers how to benefit from the two newest vertical market programs added to the KODAK MARKETMOVER Tar-geted Sales Module (TSM). Joining four existing modules, the Financial Services and the Education TSMs are designed to support KODAK NEXPRESS Digital Production Color Press users in their sales and marketing efforts. Kodak also initially announced its intent to acquire Design2Launch (D2L), a developer of a collaborative end-to-end digital workflow solution for marketing and creative teams in the pharmaceutical, food and beverage, automotive, and consumer package marketplaces.

Elixir Technologies Corporation invited attendees to see the integration of Web-based workflow, collaboration, and production management into Elixir’s document software applications and systems. The company announced the release of DesignPro Tools 3.0.

Exstream Software by HP showcased its broad set of document composition options used to support the increased role marketers have in the document creation process. Product demonstrations illustrated how Exstream’s solutions leverage SOA and XML standards, increase IT productivity, and leverage legacy data and formats.

GBC, an ACCO Brands business, previewed its new magnetic mounting material. The 15-mil magnetic substrate is easily laminated to create mounted and laminated changeable graphics. GBC also promoted its 1.7 mil PET Hi-Tac Film by producing laminated applications on the GBC 5031TS and GBC Catena 65 laminators. Near-line and offline binding solutions and shredders were also shown.

Graphic Whizard shared its new offline UV coater, VividCoater, designed to meet the finishing needs of the on demand print market. The coater is a joint effort between Graphic Whizard and Ultra Systems, a company that has marketed coaters for several years. Both companies will sell a version of the coater through their own distribution channels.

InfoPrint Solutions Company extended its portfolio of output devices with the addition of the InfoPrint EMP156 monochrome printer. The EMP156 extends the current InfoPrint cutsheet family, offering up to 156 ppm. The company also launched its suite of TransPromo solutions. The suite is accompanied by the launch of the InfoPrint TransPromo Consulting Practice, which offers customers the professional services re-quired to enable the transition to a true TransPromo environment. InfoPrint also announced a collaboration with software and professional services provider, Prinova. This will combine InfoPrint’s suite of TransPromo solutions with Prinova’s messagepoint software.

Konica Minolta Business Solutions U.S.A., Inc. unveiled its bizhub PRO 2500P, a single pass duplex cut-sheet printer, marking the first in a series of engines to address heavy production print requirements for in-plant and commercial printing. Konica Minolta also introduced the perfect binder finishing option, PB-501 for the bizhub PRO C6500/C6500P Series. In conjunction with the PB-501 is Version 2.0 of the IC-304 Print Controller for the bizhub PRO C6500 color production system.

Lasermax Roll Systems demonstrated its highly automated bulk fanfold system in two locations. The Lasermax Roll Systems RS Fanfold HS system, an inline bulk fanfolding solution for high-speed continuous digital printers, featuring the new RSF5 Folder was seen building vertical stacks of fanfold forms up to 39 inches high in the Lasermax Océ booths.

Océ’s VarioStream 8000 high-speed, continuous feed, monochrome and highlight color series made its U.S. debut at the show. The 8000 series builds on popular features of the 7000 family, with additional speed and versatility. The VarioStream 8000 features Océ CustomTone printing, MICR output, and simplex, duplex, and triplex technology. In addition, the capabilities of Océ’s JetStream family were demonstrated remotely via digital viewing to give attendees a detailed look at this technology.

Pageflex, a division of Bitstream, commemorated its ten-year anniversary in the printing industry. In addition to highlighting the recent release of Pageflex 6.0 via in-booth demonstrations, Pageflex executives and customers contributed their expertise in nine different panel-speaking sessions at the conference. Pageflex 6.0 includes new capabilities such as Pageflex Campaign Manager; which streamlines the process of creating multi-faceted cross media campaigns; a Flash-based version of the Free Edit application for Pageflex Storefront; and updates to the integrated Adobe PDF Library.

Pitney Bowes highlighted its ongoing commitment to printers, marketers, and mailers and offered experts to discuss and demonstrate solutions to prepare for and leverage emerging trends such as the Intelligent Mail Barcode and TransPromo communications. Other topics Pitney Bowes offered were security-enabled printing, the Postage Discount Program, finishing developments in mailing applications, document processing, records and information management solution, end-to-end customer communications management, enterprise content management, and e-Messaging solutions.

Presstek Inc., a manufacturer and marketer of digital offset printing business solutions, announced an alliance with Press-sense, a developer of Business Flow Automation for the Print Industry. Under the agreement, Presstek will offer the Press-sense portfolio of Web-to-print and business management software as part of the ongoing plan to surround its digital offset product portfolio with value-added business solutions.

Printable Technologies, Inc. and Canon U.S.A., Inc. announced an agreement through which Canon will offer Web-to-print solutions from Printable through its imagePRESS Workflow Solutions program. Canon will market and sell Printable’s solution, in conjunction with imagePRESS digital presses in order to help printing and marketing service providers and corporate users automate and streamline production processes. Printable also announced the availability of FusionPro Links version 2.5, offering a new campaign-centric workflow helping marketers better reach customers with individualized communications, while gathering enhanced response data to more easily understand and respond to customer needs.

PrintSoft featured the latest version of its WebDirect correspondence solution suite. Attendees were able to learn about WebDirect solutions that give command and control to business users for variable message management while also streamlining document automation workflows and enhancing brand and compliance control for business-critical personalized correspondence.

Quark Inc. announced it’s leveraging its existing desktop publishing server and collaborative workflow expertise to launch a new enterprise solution in the emerging dynamic publishing market. Named Quark Dynamic Publishing Solution (DPS), the enterprise-scale publishing solution combines flexible layout with automated publishing to create and deliver accurate, relevant, and attractive communications across multiple types of media, including print, Web, mobile, and electronic devices. Quark’s expansion into dynamic publishing addresses the increasing multi-channel challenges faced by publishers and complements its desktop publishing software, QuarkXPress.

Ricoh Americas Corporation’s PPBG showcased the Ricoh Pro C900, a high-productivity—90 ppm—B&W and full-color press. The official international launch of the C900 will be at drupa. Among other production and multifunction printers (MFP) showcased was the Ricoh Pro 1356EX, boasting output speeds of up to 135 ppm. The MFP includes a network scan-to-email and scan-to-file with printer and scanner kit option. Ricoh’s Production Workflow Services (RPWS), is an enterprise solution which enables customers to easily integrate Ricoh’s hardware and software solutions into their existing workflows without the need for application re-engineering, was also launched at the show.

RISO, Inc. announced a reseller relationship with Objectif Lune, a document composition software provider for variable data printing (VDP), workflow automation, and Web-to-print. With the new agreement, RISO becomes a reseller of Objectif Lune’s PlanetPress Suite and PrintShop Mail software, both of which are fully compatible with RISO’s HC5500.

Rollem International introduced new technology allowing two directional slitting utilizing bleed cuts in both directions. This method requires less labor, a less qualified operator, and results in higher production. Rollem streamlines finishing for all types of direct mail including VDP jobs. A unique finishing line is designed by linking the Rollem TR Die-Score system with folding, gluing, and shrink wrapping units to complete the personalized VDP mailing piece process.

Screen USA showcased its Truepress Jet520, which provides full-color, short run VDP for professionals looking for high-quality alternatives to improve response rates, reduce costs, and increase demand for products. The Truepress Jet 520 features a printing width of 5.9 to 20 inches and paper width of 6.4 to 20.4 inches. The press prints at a maximum rate of 210 feet-per-minute, or 55,000 impressions per hour. Screen also announced it joined the Canon imagePRESS Workflow Solutions Program and will co-market with Canon the use of Screen’s prepress production workflow product, Trueflow SE, with Canon’s imagePRESS digital printing presses.

Sharp Imaging and Information Co. of America brought its full line of color and monochrome MFPs and the Sharp OSA development platform. Sharp demonstrated compatible solutions for the production environment including Objectif Lune’s variable data output software; Rochester Software Associates, Inc.’s WebCRD; EFI’s portfolio including Fiery digital color print servers, print production workflow and management information software, and corporate printing solutions; and GBC’s SmartPunch for conveniently delivering punched output. Sharp also demonstrated how Sharp OSA-enabled MFPs can improve productivity and reduce operational costs.

Standard Finishing Systems launched the Standard Horizon HXM/HCP-1 Case Binding System, bringing ultra short run hardcover book production to print on demand environments. The system allows hardcover books to be produced with more automation and less operator skill than ever before. The system is comprised of two modules, a Hardcover Maker and a Hardcover Press. Opera-tors enter the book size on the touchscreen and the display guides them through all case preparation steps with a high degree of automation. Book blocks can be EVA or PUR adhesive-bound on a Standard Horizon BQ-series perfect binder.

Xeikon/Punch Graphix Americas de-monstrated a fully automated book production solution and a range of unique digital color applications. The applications were printed on the Xeikon 6000 digital color press. The company re-cently announced the Xeikon 8000 at its pre-drupa event.

Xerox Corporation demonstrated new applications that work with Xerox’s Extensible Interface Platform (EIP) and Xerox DocuShare enterprise content management software. The company’s VIPP Pro Publisher allows print pro-viders to use Adobe InDesign software to add variable text and images to postcards, statements, and invoices.

XMPie, Inc. revealed new branding and launched XMPie Marketplace, an online resource designed to support users in the creation of personalized marketing materials. Marketplace features an XMPie uStore-based e-commerce Web site offering a library of creatively designed uImage templates available for purchase and download by uImage users.

These are only a handful of highlights from March’s event. Next year promises to bring new trends and product announcements. We look forward to seeing you in Philadelphia, PA, March 30 to April 2, 2009.

May2008, Digital Publishing Solutions